Box Score BOX SCORE
When and Where: December 5, 2015 – Waltham, Mass. (Dana Center)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 72, Bentley University 67
Records: SNHU 8-0 (4-0 Northeast-10), Bentley 6-2 (2-2 Northeast-10)
Senior Erin Doherty (Marshfield, Mass.) scored a team-high 15 points as the Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team held off 22nd-ranked Bentley University, 72-67, Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center. The Penmen remain unbeaten at 8-0, matching their best start to a season since 1988-89.
Doherty shot 5-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 at the line, while pulling down five rebounds. Freshman Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Mass.) continued her solid play as she reached double figures in points for the fourth straight contest. Lorenzen tallied 13 points (6-10 FG, 1-1 3-FG), eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. Sophomore Olivia Conrad (Hanover, Mass.) was also in double figures with 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 FT) and four boards.
Jen Gemma posted 25 points and 20 rebounds as she became Bentley's 34th 1,000-point scorer in program history. Lauren Green added 20 points for the Falcons.
Southern New Hampshire fell behind, 4-0, early on and trailed 13-9 with under two minutes to play in the opening quarter when Lorenzen closed the stanza on personal 7-0 run to give the Penmen a 16-13 lead heading into the second period.
SNHU pushed its lead to double figures following an 8-0 burst – with four points from sophomore Jennifer Shelp (Apalachin, N.Y.) – as it opened a 26-15 advantage with 7:01 remaining in the second quarter. The gap was eight when four points from Lorenzen triggered an 11-3 surge that stretched the lead to 39-23 with 2:45 on the clock. Bentley would shave its deficit to 42-30 at the break.
The lead was 10 early in the third when a 7-0 spurt made it 51-34 with 6:35 to play. Bentley responded with a 9-2 counter-run that was powered by four points each from Gemma and Green and made it a 10-point game again at 53-43 with 4:05 on the clock. The Penmen would carry a 60-47 advantage into the final frame.
The margin was 14 with just over four minutes to go when Bentley ripped off 11 of the next 14 points to slash its deficit to 69-63 with 1:00 to go. Gemma contributed six points during the stretch, while Green added five. SNHU would nudge the lead to nine with three free throws before Bentley scored the game's final five points.
Shelp finished with nine points (2-4 FG, 5-8 FT), three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman Brianna Camara (Fall River, Mass.) chipped in eight points (3-7 FG, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) recorded six points (2-10 FG 2-4 FT), six rebounds, five assists and two steals, while sophomore Catherine Stinson (Lynn, Mass.) added six points (1-5 FG, 4-6 FT) and three assists.
Notes:
-Southern New Hampshire narrowly outshot Bentley, 43.9 percent (25-57) to 41 percent (25-61). The Penmen were just 1-for-9 (11.1%) from beyond the arc, while the Falcons fared slightly better at 3-for-15 (20%).
-The Penmen were plus-seven from the stripe as they shot 21 of 34 (61.8%), compared to 14 of 24 (58.3%) for the Falcons.
-Bentley won both the glass (40-38) and the paint (38-28), while Southern New Hampshire turned it over just 13 times and forced 19 Bentley mistakes for a 22-8 advantage in points of turnovers.
Up Next:
The Penmen are back in action Wednesday, Dec. 9 (5:30 p.m.) when they play host to Merrimack College on Ugly Sweater Night at the Fieldhouse. Tickets can be purchased HERE or at the box office on the day of the game.
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